Willard Psychiatric Center School of Nursing Records

Arranged by type of record.

The Willard State Hospital School of Nursing grew out of two-year hospital attendant classes begun in 1887 at Willard Asylum. In 1922, in attempting to standardize education and training of nurses, all nursing schools in the State (affiliated with both general hospitals and mental hospitals) were brought under the authority of the State Education Department.

This series consists primarily of 8" x 10" black-and-white photographs depicting students and facilities of the Willard State Hospital School of Nursing in a variety of venues and activities including classroom, laboratory, and operating room instruction; commencement ceremonies (capping); study; formal group photos of classes, by year; interaction with patients; and recreation activities. Most individuals depicted in the photographs are unidentified.

Also included are handbooks, commencement programs (for some years), yearbooks (1970-1976), course catalogs (1949-1975), news clippings, and other material related to the history of the school or nursing history in general.

B1442, Willard Documentary Photographs, contain many more photographs from the Willard State Hospital School of Nursing.

Container list.

These records were apparently retained in the School of Nursing Library until its closure in the late 1970s. The records were than transferred and retained in the staff library at Willard State Hospital. The records were transferred to the State Archives by authorization 19069 when the facility closed.

There are no restrictions regarding access to or use of this material.